US3387285A - Spectrally coded data storage - Google Patents

Spectrally coded data storage Download PDF

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Publication number
US3387285A
US3387285A US332607A US33260763A US3387285A US 3387285 A US3387285 A US 3387285A US 332607 A US332607 A US 332607A US 33260763 A US33260763 A US 33260763A US 3387285 A US3387285 A US 3387285A
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United States
Prior art keywords
storage
column
light
elements
bins
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US332607A
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English (en)
Inventor
John W Horton
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International Business Machines Corp
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International Business Machines Corp
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Priority to US332607A priority Critical patent/US3387285A/en
Priority to GB49360/64A priority patent/GB1032798A/en
Priority to AT1070364A priority patent/AT251318B/de
Priority to DE1447217A priority patent/DE1447217C3/de
Priority to FR999666A priority patent/FR1418595A/fr
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01J—MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY
    • G01J3/00—Spectrometry; Spectrophotometry; Monochromators; Measuring colours
    • G01J3/28—Investigating the spectrum
    • G01J3/30—Measuring the intensity of spectral lines directly on the spectrum itself
    • G01J3/36—Investigating two or more bands of a spectrum by separate detectors
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11C—STATIC STORES
    • G11C13/00—Digital stores characterised by the use of storage elements not covered by groups G11C11/00, G11C23/00, or G11C25/00
    • G11C13/04—Digital stores characterised by the use of storage elements not covered by groups G11C11/00, G11C23/00, or G11C25/00 using optical elements ; using other beam accessed elements, e.g. electron or ion beam
    • G11C13/048—Digital stores characterised by the use of storage elements not covered by groups G11C11/00, G11C23/00, or G11C25/00 using optical elements ; using other beam accessed elements, e.g. electron or ion beam using other optical storage elements

Definitions

  • magnetization is to the left or to the right; the magnetization is either present or not present; the storage medium is either there or it is not there (hole in a card); the emulsion is either clear or it is dark.
  • the present invention utilizes multiple quantitization of a spot whereby, for example, using five different elements, each having a unique binary value designation and being either present or absent, 32 distinct combinations may be recorded on a single spot.
  • Six elements provide 64 combinations; seven elements provide 128 combinations, etc.
  • the presence of a particular element is determined by detection of a characteristic spectral line.
  • An absorption spectrum results when radiation having a continuous spectrum is passed through a selectively absorbing medium.
  • the absorption spectrum shows gaps (dark lines or spaces) at wavelengths which are characteristic of the particular medium.
  • Rare earth elements or salts thereof exhibit sharp absorption lines throughout the visible spectrum. These lines characteristically are 1-5 A. (Angstroms) wide. Thus, in the red portion (approximately 50 A. wide), for example, to 100 lines might be identified.
  • each resolution area of the color film is capable of storing any one of thirty-two characters or words, each being represented by a five bit binary code.
  • additional colors or distinct intensities of the colors could be assigned binary values.
  • the presence or absence of particular elements is not determined by color as in the above application but rather is determined in accordance with the presence or absence of characteristic spectral lines of the elements.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide an im proved spectrally coded storage device.
  • a further object of this invention is to provide multiple quantitized recording of data wherein each quantity is represented by an element having distinctive spectral lines.
  • a still further object of this invention is to provide a multiple quantitized storage device wherein each quantity consists of an inorganic compound having uniquely identifiable spectral lines.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide a multiple quantitized storage device wherein each quantity consists of a rare earth element having uniquely identifiable spectral lines.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide an improved storage system providing two-dimensional accessing of a three-dimensional memory.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide an improved read only memory of high capacity.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide an improved three-dimensional memory with two axes selected by physical positioning and the third axis by use of frequency bands.
  • Yet another object of this invention is to provide an improved memory having multiple quantitized storage areas, each storage area consisting of one or more elements each having a designated value and signifying its presence by absorbing light of a given frequency.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide an improved multiple quantitized storage device wherein each quantity has a distinct value and is expressed in binary notation by its presence or absence.
  • FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a schematic representation of the storage system.
  • FIGURE 2 is a view of one of the plurality of storage bin arrays which make up the storage device.
  • FIGURE 3 is a side view of the storage device partly broken away.
  • FIGURE 4 is an alternate embodiment of the storage device shown in FIGURE 3.
  • FIGURE 5 is a schematic representation of the apparatus for reading out the storage device and analyzing its contents.
  • FIGURE 6 is a spectral chart divided into frequency bands.
  • this invention includes a plurality of storage arrays, each array having plural storage positions (bins) arranged in rows and columns.
  • storage is accomplished by placing selected combinations of materials each of which has been assigned a unique binary value. For example, three different materials may be given binary values of 1, 2 and 4. Each binary value is included or not included in a bin in accordance with the presence or absence of the particular material having that binary value. These different materials are applied to the storage area in accordance with the value to be represented by their binary sum.
  • Storage of coded data in the foregoing manner provides a very compact read only memory.
  • the output light is examined by a spectroscope and the presence of each particular element is detected by photoresponsive elements which detect the presence of characteristic spectral lines.
  • Coincident read out of all bins in a selected column is accomplishd by providing a unique band pass (color) filter for each bin of a column whereby each bin is represented in a portion of the total spectrum corresponding to the band of wavelengths of light which is passed by a particular filter.
  • a simple logical circuit combines the outputs of the photoresponsive devices to indicate which of the elements are present in a given bin. Each detected combination will have a meaning which can be indicated in any suitable way.
  • the principle of the invention is taught utilizing a small scale memory consisting of eight storage arrays each having eight columns and three rows of bins. Also, in the illustrated embodiment, only three elements having binary values 1, 2 and 4 are shown. However, it will be apparent that the number of arrays and the number of columns per array may be increased greatly, limited only by restraints imposed by the problem of physical handling and accessing. While the illustrated embodiment shows movement of the storage array, it may be desirable in some instances, for example with a very large memory array, to move the transducer instead.
  • the number of bins per column and the number of elements per bin may be expanded greatly, limited only by the number of different frequency bands which may be separated and within which uniquely identifiable spectral lines of all the selected elements can be encompassed. Also there can be a trade-oft between the number of bins and the number of elements per bin, depending upon how the store is to be used.
  • the system includes a spec troscope 10, a storage array 12, piston adders 14 and 16 and a unit 18 for providing actuating fluids selectively through tubes 20-1, 20-2, 20-4 and 22-1, 222 and 22-4 to adders 14 and 16 respectively to position the memory 12 with respect to a transducer 24 attached to the spectroscope 10 by an arm 26.
  • the memory array 12 consists of eight two-dimensional arrays of storage bins designated A A Referring to 4&- FIGURE 2, a single one of the arrays A is illustrated and consists of three rows of bins designated B B B arranged in eight columns designated C C Referring to FIGURE 3, a side view of the storage device 12 is shown with the outer wall partially broken away to expose the end column of bins of the array A The transducer 24 is shown in phantom outline above this array. In FIGURE 5, the bin A is shown in even greater detail.
  • An input light pipe 30 extends from top to bottom along the left hand side of the column of bins.
  • An output light pipe 32 extends from bottom to top along the right hand side.
  • each bin comprising a light filter (f) and up to three data elements.
  • Filters f f and f correspond respectively to bins B B and B In this illustration three rectangular sections are shown in each bin to represent the binary coded elements which may be present.
  • Each input light pipe 30 is separated from the adjacent output light pipe 32 by a Wall 34.
  • salts of the three elements neodymium, holmium and europium are designated as elements E E and E respectively.
  • the filters f f and f associated with bins B B and 13 respectively it is necessary to select the filters f f and f associated with bins B B and 13 respectively, to each pass a band of light wave frequencies which encompasses at least one distinguishable spectral line of each of the elements E E and E
  • the elements E E and E three filters which may be used are commercially available and are identified in Bulletin CF-l, Glass Color Filters, published by Corning Glass Works, Corning, N.Y., Optical Sales Department (1960).
  • the filters f f and 3 may be Corning filters C.S. (color specification) 7-83, 5-75 and 367 respectively.
  • the approximate band passes of these filters are shown in the following chart.
  • FIG- URES 3 and 5 While the storage bins have been illustrated in FIG- URES 3 and 5 as rectangular areas having substantial width, it will be understood that the elements would usually be deposited in very think layers by vacuum deposition, spraying, painting, etc. and would be of minute thickness.
  • the array A in FIGURE 2 is schematically separated into twenty-four rectangular areas.
  • the array could take many forms.
  • it could be a rectangular glass plate with the elements E E and E deposited in bin positions. It could be an assembly of individual rectangular elements.
  • Another variation which would make the storage array adaptable to changes in content is to make the individual bins or columns of bins or arrays removable for updating or for replacement by new ones.
  • the elements E E and E could be deposited, for example, on the right hand bin wall which could well be the surface of the output light pipe or on the corresponding filter (f).
  • the elements may be deposited one on top of the other or they may be applied in one application by mixing together in various combinations or by simulta neously evaporating selected elements onto the bin location.
  • the method of applying the elements to the bins is not part of the invention and any suitable Way would sufiice.
  • the device 18 in FIGURE 1 is actuated by any suitable means, for example, a punched card input having a three-bit binary coded X address for array selection and a three-bit binary coded Y address for column selection. It is not necessary to specify a particular bin address since all bins in the selected column are interrogated simultaneously. The contents of the three bins are read out simultaneously and the particular bin is determined in a manner described hereinafter.
  • the piston adders 14 and 16 are of conventional design having one unit, two unit and four unit increments of movement which can be used selectively to provide zero to seven increments of movement, thereby providing eight discrete positions. Since the means for operating such piston adders in response to address inputs are not part of this invention and are within the skill of the art to build, no further description is provided;
  • the transducer 24 is shown positioned to read a particular column of bins in array A
  • a source of light represented by a bulb 36 connected to a power source represented by a pair of terminals 38 illuminates the end of a light pipe 40 whereby light is transmitted to the input light pipe 30 of the selected column of bins. Portions of the light pass through the filters f f and f and through all of the elements E E and E which may be present in the bins B B and B
  • Each column of bins in each of the arrays has the identical filters f1 f2 and Ia-
  • the light emerging from the three bins passes through the output light pipe 32 and into the end of a light pipe 42 in the transducer 24. The light passes from the light pipe 42, and is applied to the spectrometer 10.
  • Each light pipe 40 or 42 may be a single light transmitting element but may also consist of a bundle of small light fibers.
  • the use of fibers is particularly desirable since the output ends at the spectroscope can be aligned to simulate the usual light admitting slit of the spectroscope. With such an arrangement, the image of the simulated light slit is imaged by the spectroscope to produce the conventional spectral lines.
  • the spectroscope may be of conventional design.
  • the one illustrated in FIGURE 5 is known as Paschens mounting and comprises a slit which is represented by the end of the light pipe 42 and is designated 44, a concave diffraction grating 46 and a focal plane which is represented by the dotted line 48, and which is known as the Rowland circle.
  • This type of spectroscope provides spectra of several orders along the line 48. In the present embodiment, only one order is utilized. However, use of more than one order to accommodate the physical size of analyzing apparatus described below, or for other reasons, is within the scope of this invention. Also, the scale of the spectrum represented by the line 48 is exaggerated relative to the remainder of the spectroscope for ease of illustration.
  • one spectral order is represented by the line 48 between the points m and n.
  • the span nm is divided into several sections in accordance with the approximate wavelengths of light represented in the spectrum. Certain sections are designated f f and f respectively in accordance with the wavelengths of light passing by the bin filters having similar designations.
  • spectral lines characteristic of the elements E E and B are represented as well as the band pass of the filters f f and 3.
  • the spectral lines of FIGURE 6 were derived from an aqueous solution of the named elements. In certain light bands, the spectral lines are so close that they merge as shown by the broader dark areas in FIGURE 6.
  • certain spectral lines for each of the elements in each of the band passes are selected as the ones to be detected to indicate the presence of the element in the respective bins. Each selected line is indicated by a circle above it. It is noted that the selected lines of the elements within each band pass are not in vertical alignment in FIGURE 6. That is, they occur at different wavelengths. This is necessary since detection of spectral lines of two or more elements at the same wavelength would be diificult or impossible.
  • a series of photodiodes generally designated 50 are arranged in an are along the line 48. Multiple images of slit 44 are focused at line 48.
  • Each spectral line shown in FIGURE 6 is an imageof the slit 44 indicating that light is absorbed by the element at that wavelength.
  • the photodiodes 50 are divided into three groups 50-1, 50-2 and 50-3 corresponding to the sections f f and between points m and n.
  • the photodiodes in each group are positioned within their respective regions f f and f at the locations where the selected spectral lines will be focused if the corresponding elements are present in the interrogated bins.
  • diodes in each group have further designations of E E and E corresponding to the particular elements they detect. It is noted that the order of arrangement of the diodes in the various groups varies in accordance with the position of the selected spectral lines in FIGURE 6.
  • the photodiodes 50 are connected to a decoding matrix 52 via lines 54.
  • a filter 60 Since the spectral orders overlap, it is necessary to place a filter 60 over a portion of the span mm to eliminate the spectral lines of the next higher order. These overlapping spectral lines would be superimposed at a wavelength related to the original line multiplied by a factor of two. For example, a line at 3400 A. would also appear on the same spectral order at 6800 A. Since, in the illustrated embodiment, use is not made of any spectral line below 3400 A., the wavelengths below 3400 A. are filtered out. This may be accomplished by an appropriate filter at one of several points in the system.
  • the filters f f and i have the characteristics previously described, and in addition, filter out all frequencies below 3400 A.
  • the filter 60 is inserted on the Rowland circle 48 in the position between 6800 and 7000 A. Referring to FIGURE 6, the shortest wavelength line which is used is somewhat above 3400 A. and the longest wavelength line used is somewhat below 7 000 A. Therefore, for the specific lines used, the filter 60 may not be required. However, f r other selected spectral lines, the filter would be necessary.
  • one of the bins through which a band of frequencies passes does not contain one or more of the elements E E or E that portion of the spectrum falling upon the group of diodes 50 associated with that bin will be underbroken and light will fall upon each of the photodiodes in that group thereby activating them. If one or more of the elements E E E is present in the bin the spectrum will have spectral lines in the sector corresponding to that bin, that is, absence of light due to heavy absorption of light at a frequency position in the spectrum adjacent to a given diode, whereby the diode corresponding to that frequency will not be lighted and will not be activated.
  • FIGURE 4 shows a variation in the storage device which affords a. saving in the number of elements and space requirements.
  • each light pipe is designated 30-32 since the output light pipe for one column of bins serves also as the input light pipe for the column of bins to the right thereof.
  • a storage device having eight arrays A A as illustrated in FIGURE 3 only nine light pipes rather than sixteen are required.
  • band pass filters for the bins and storing a multiple bit word per bin
  • variations of the coding scheme will be apparent.
  • the filters may be omitted and a word may be stored down the length of a column of bins by providing a coding scheme where each element is assigned a bin position and a word is stored by the application of elements in selected combinations.
  • Another variation using filters is to store multiple bit characters in the bins and to have multiple character words stored in a column.
  • a data storage system comprising:
  • a data storage system comprising:
  • a data storage system comprising:
  • a filter associated with each storage position of said column for passing a distinct and non-overlapping band of said light through each storage position of said column;
  • a data storage system comprising:
  • a filter associated with each storage position of each said column of storage positions for passing a distinct and non-overlapping band of applied light through each storage position of the selected column;
  • a data storage system comprising:
  • a data storage system comprising:
  • each filter within a group passing a different and nonoverlapping band of light
  • a data storage system comprising:
  • a spectroscope for dispersing said transmitted light in absorption spectrum having sectors corresponding to the storage positions of said column
  • a data storage system comprising:
  • a data storage system comprising:
  • a data storage system comprising:
  • each column having p storage positions, each said storage position including a filter, data in the form of coded combina tions of elements exhibiting distinctive spectral characteristics, a column input light pipe and a column output light pipe, said filter for each storage position passing a band of light distinct from and non-overlapping with the bands for the filters associated with other storage positions of said column;

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Spectroscopy & Molecular Physics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Investigating Or Analysing Materials By Optical Means (AREA)
  • Spectrometry And Color Measurement (AREA)
US332607A 1963-12-23 1963-12-23 Spectrally coded data storage Expired - Lifetime US3387285A (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US332607A US3387285A (en) 1963-12-23 1963-12-23 Spectrally coded data storage
GB49360/64A GB1032798A (en) 1963-12-23 1964-12-04 Information storage apparatus
AT1070364A AT251318B (de) 1963-12-23 1964-12-17 Spektroskopischer Festwertspeicher
DE1447217A DE1447217C3 (de) 1963-12-23 1964-12-17 Optischer Festwertspeicher
FR999666A FR1418595A (fr) 1963-12-23 1964-12-23 Système d'emmagasinage de données

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US332607A US3387285A (en) 1963-12-23 1963-12-23 Spectrally coded data storage

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US3387285A true US3387285A (en) 1968-06-04

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AT (1) AT251318B (de)
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GB (1) GB1032798A (de)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3582623A (en) * 1969-01-10 1971-06-01 American Cyanamid Co Detection of mixtures of narrow band photoluminescers
US3882468A (en) * 1973-12-28 1975-05-06 Eastman Kodak Co Storage and retrieval of graphic information
US5029967A (en) * 1990-04-09 1991-07-09 The Boeing Company Optical source for optical sensing system

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3138783A (en) * 1961-01-18 1964-06-23 Ohio Commw Eng Co Arrangement for reading out symbolically recorded information in color
US3148355A (en) * 1961-12-26 1964-09-08 Ibm Storage device utilizing color film and movable filters
US3196393A (en) * 1961-02-09 1965-07-20 Ohio Commw Eng Co Input device for data processing system

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3138783A (en) * 1961-01-18 1964-06-23 Ohio Commw Eng Co Arrangement for reading out symbolically recorded information in color
US3196393A (en) * 1961-02-09 1965-07-20 Ohio Commw Eng Co Input device for data processing system
US3148355A (en) * 1961-12-26 1964-09-08 Ibm Storage device utilizing color film and movable filters

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3582623A (en) * 1969-01-10 1971-06-01 American Cyanamid Co Detection of mixtures of narrow band photoluminescers
US3882468A (en) * 1973-12-28 1975-05-06 Eastman Kodak Co Storage and retrieval of graphic information
US5029967A (en) * 1990-04-09 1991-07-09 The Boeing Company Optical source for optical sensing system

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Publication number Publication date
GB1032798A (en) 1966-06-15
DE1447217C3 (de) 1975-02-20
DE1447217A1 (de) 1969-03-20
AT251318B (de) 1966-12-27
DE1447217B2 (de) 1974-07-18

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JPH09282437A (ja) 光情報記録媒体及び光情報読み取り装置